Colostomy bag cleaning device

ABSTRACT

A cleansing device (10) for use with a colostomy or other body waste bag. The device (10) includes a valve body (12) having a passage (14) and a gate valve (20) positioned in the passage (14), an elongated handle (34) controlling the gate valve (20), a hose (28) connected to the inlet (16) of the valve body passage and adapted to be secured to a source of irrigating water, and a tube (22) attached to the outlet (18) of the valve body passage including a main body portion (22a) and a nozzle portion (22b) bent backwardly with respect to the main body portion (22b) into the colostomy bag. The patient may grasp the valve body (12) with one hand to move the nozzle portion (22b) of the tube (22) upwardly into the discharge opening of the colostomy bag and may thereafter use the same hand to squeeze the handle (34) and direct a flow of irrigating fluid into the interior of the bag.

RELATED INVENTION

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 08/514,934 filed on Aug. 14, 1995 now abandoned and a 371PCT/US96/13124 filed Aug. 14, 1996.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns the field of fecal incontinence devices and,more particularly, to a device for and a method of effectively cleaningout said devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELEVANT PRIOR ART

The use of incontinence devices such as ostomy pouches, colostomy bags,urostomy bags, as well as incontinence devices used in conjunction withnatural body orifices, has been increasing in recent years. Patientswith cancerous lesions, as well as other conditions of thegastrointestinal and urinary tracts, are often subjected to surgicalprocedures which remove parts of these systems, thus rendering thenatural body orifices ineffective. It is frequently necessary tosurgically create stoma or openings for the passage of, for example,fecal material. Thus, waste passing through these surgically createdstoma must be collected via the now-familiar ostomy pouch or colostomybag. Since the number of persons subjected to such surgical interventionhas greatly increased in recent years, the problem of effectivelycleaning these incontinence devices has become increasingly urgent.

A number of prior art devices are known for washing such incontinencedevices. Examples include U.S. Pat. Nos.: 3,736,934; 4,194,506;4,692,159; and 4,941,878. However, none of these prior art efforts areconvenient or effective in use.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,878 discloses an ostomy pouch flusher comprising anelongate wand having a fluid inlet and discharge ports adjacent toopposite ends. A handle is provided on the wand adjacent to the inletend. A framework of generally parallel rods extend along the wand andare spaced from each other to define therewith an open space for passageof a supply fluid and ostomy waste. The handle of the wand is connectedvia a hose to a faucet adapter for connection to a supply of cold water.No means is provided on this device for augmenting the flow rate of thewater flowing therethrough except by means of adjusting the flow rate ofthe supply of cold water. Thus, the device has limited effectiveness.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,503 discloses an apparatus for washing body wastebags that have an opening. The device includes a diverter valve havingan internally threaded spout to attach to a faucet. The diverter valvehas a plunger, and a reduced size nipple adapted to be received in asmall opening in a body waste bag. When the faucet is turned on, and theplunger is in a diverter open position, the water from the faucet flowsnormally through the diverter valve for regular use into the bag to washit. When the plunger is in a closed position, the water flows throughreduced sized openings to wash the bag with a reduced stream of water.The diverter valve remains on the faucet so that the faucet is availablefor normal use. Again, the device disclosed in this patent provides acleansing stream of water, but the flow rate thereof is, if anything,actually less than that of water flowing from the faucet in itsundiverted condition. Thus, the force of the stream used to clean thebag is no greater, and probably less, resulting in reduced effectivenessof the cleansing action thereof.

What is needed is a device for cleaning colostomy bags and other wastebags which is simple and easy to use, which may be used in conjunctionwith a readily available supply of hot and cold water, such as thetypical faucet, but which is effective in cleaning the inside of thebag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device for cleansing a body waste bag of thetype including an upper end adapted to be attached to a stoma to receivewaste from the patient's body and a lower end including a dischargeopening.

The device includes a valve body having an inlet and an outlet anddefining a fluid passage extending within the body between the inlet andthe outlet; an elongated flexible hose having an outlet fitting at oneend for attachment to an inlet of the valve body and an inlet fitting atanother end thereof for attachment to a source of running water; avalving device positioned in the passage and operative in response tomovement of the valving device in the passage to control the flow ofwater through the passage; a handle positioned exteriorally of the valvebody and mounted on the valve body for movement relative to the valvebody; means operative in response to movement of the handle to move thevalving device to control the flow of water through the passage; a tubehaving a V configuration including a main body portion and a nozzleportion angled with respect to the main body portion; an inlet fittingon the free end of the main body portion to facilitate attachment of themain body portion to the outlet of the valve body passage; and a nozzleat the free end of the nozzle portion having a tapered configuration tofacilitate insertion of the nozzle portion into the discharge opening ofthe body waste bag. With this arrangement, and with the body waste bagattached to the stoma, the outlet fitting of the flexible hose attachedto the inlet of the passage, and the inlet fitting of the main bodyportion of the tube attached to the outlet of the passage, the inletfitting of the flexible hose may be attached to a source of runningwater, the nozzle portion of the tube may be passed upwardly into thedischarge opening of the waste bag to position the nozzle within thebag, and the handle may be manipulated to move the valving device in asense to open the passage and allow the flow of irrigating water fromthe source, through the hose, through the passage, and through the tubeinto the bag to cleanse the bag.

The invention also provides a method for cleansing a body waste bag ofthe type including an upper end adapted to be attached to a stoma toreceive waste from the patient's body and a lower end including adischarge opening. The method is practiced utilizing a valve body havingan inlet and outlet and defining a fluid passage extending within thebody between the inlet and the outlet; an elongated flexible hose havingan outlet fitting at one end attached to the inlet of the valve body andan inlet fitting at another end thereof for attachment to a source ofrunning water; a valving device positioned in the passage and operativein response to movement of the valving device in the passage to controlthe flow of water through the passage; a handle positioned exteriorallyof the valve body and mounted on the valve body for movement relative tothe valve body; means operative in response to movement of the handle tomove the valving device to control the flow of water through thepassage; and a tube having a V configuration including a main bodyportion attached to the outlet of the valve body passage and a nozzleportion bent backwardly with respect to the main body portion anddefining a nozzle at the free end of the nozzle portion having a taperedconfiguration to facilitate insertion of the nozzle portion into thedischarge opening of the body waste bag. In carrying out the inventionmethodology, the body waste bag is attached to the stoma, the inletfitting of the flexible hose is attached to a source of running water,the nozzle portion of the tube is passed upwardly into the dischargeopening of the waste bag to position the nozzle within the bag, and thehandle is manipulated to move the valving device in a sense to open thepassage and allow the flow of irrigating water from the source, throughthe hose, through the passage, and through the tube into the bag tocleanse the bag.

According to a further feature of the invention methodology, the valvebody is elongated and defines a central longitudinal passage; the handleis elongated, extends generally parallel to the central longitudinalpassage, and is mounted for movement toward and away from the valve bodyin response to a squeezing movement exerted by a patient's hand wrappedaround the valve body; and the main body portion of the tube extendsgenerally parallel to the central longitudinal axis. With thisarrangement a patient's hand wrapped around the valve body may squeezethe handle to regulate the flow of irrigating water through the valvebody and may pull upwardly on the valve body to move the nozzle into thedischarge opening of the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the cleaning device of the invention withcertain elements thereof shown in cross-section;

FIG. 2 is a view of the cleaning device shown in operation to cleanse acolostomy bag;

FIG. 3 is a view of a wand or a tube utilized in the invention cleaningdevice;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the use of the cleaning device by a patient;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view further illustrating the use of thecleaning device by a patient; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic exploded view showing connectors for use with theinvention cleaning device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The cleaning device 10 of the invention is intended for cleansing theinside of a body waste bag such as a colostomy bag C attached in knownmanner to a stoma S. The device 10 includes an elongated valve body 12defining a central longitudinal axis 13 and further defining a fluidpassage 14 extending therethrough. The fluid passage 14 has a fluidentrance or inlet 16 and a fluid exit or outlet 18 at opposite endsthereof. A gate valve, generally indicated at 20, is operativelyassociated with the fluid passage 14 such that operation of the gatevalve will cause the flow rate of fluid passing through the fluidpassageway 14 to either increase or decrease as desired. Gate valve 20is operated by an elongated handle 34 positioned exteriorally of thevalve body and extending generally parallel to central axis 13. One end34a of handle 34 is pivotably attached to a valving device or plunger 36controlling the gate valve and an intermediate portion 34b of the handleis pivotally attached at 38 to a lug structure 12a of the valve body sothat downward pivotal movement of handle end 34c by a patient's hand Hwrapped around the valve body 12 has the effect of squeezing the handleagainst the valve body to initially open valve 20 and thereafter, withfurther squeezing action, gradually increase the extent of valve openingto increase the flow rate of irrigating water through the passage.

Device 10 further includes a wand or tube 22 including a main bodyportion 22a and a nozzle portion 22b bent backwardly with respect tomain body portion 22a to define a generally V configuration. The freeend of nozzle portion 22b defines a nozzle 24 and free end 26 of mainbody portion 22a is removably attached to the fluid passage exit 18.Nozzle 24 has a diameter such that it may be inserted into the opening Oof the colostomy bag C as can most clearly be seen in FIGS. 2 and 5.Nozzle 24 is tapered and defines a reduced diameter opening 25. Thus,water flowing through the tube 22 will exit via nozzle 24 which, becauseof the constriction resulting from the reduced diameter opening 25, willcause the flow rate of water to increase and become turbulent, thusimproving its cleansing action. The tapered shape of the nozzle and thesmall size of opening 25 helps the operator to direct the water flow inthe desired direction within the bag.

Cleansing device 10 further includes a hose 28 which is removablyattachable to the fluid entrance 16 of nozzle body 12. As can be seen inFIG. 2, hose 28 has a first end 30 which is removably attached to fluidentrance 16 and a second end 32 which is removably attached to a sourceof hot and cold running water, such as a mixing valve M (FIG. 2) or asink faucet F (FIG. 4). A conventional threaded connector may besupplied on the end 32 of hose 28 to facilitate attachment to valve M orfaucet F or a quick connect (not depicted) may be used. Alternatively,the valve M or faucet F may be supplied with an adapter fitting toreceive the end 32 of the hose. A quick connect 38 may also be used toattach the first end 30 of the hose to the fluid entrance 16.Furthermore, O-rings are preferably provided at the fluid exit 18 andthe fluid entrance 16 so that water pressures of up to 350 pounds perinch may be contained inside the device 10.

Tube 22 is preferably disposable and is preferably formed of a plasticmaterial that is sufficiently rigid to hold any shape to which it isbent but yet flexible enough to allow selective reconfiguration of the Vshape of the tube. For example, tube 22 may be formed of a flexiblepolymeric material such as PVC. It is highly desirable that the tube 22be fabricated of lightweight materials because many patients who haveincontinence bags are otherwise handicapped and/or weak. Tube 22 mayvary in size so as to be useable with different sorts of body wastebags. Because the tube 22 is flexible, it may be directed at variousangles into the interior of the bag C thus improving the cleansingaction.

In use, device 10 is attached to mixing valve M or faucet F by attachingthe respective ends 30, 32 of the hose 28 to the fluid entrance 16 ofvalve body 12 and to the valve M or faucet F. The nozzle 24 is thenpositioned inside the colostomy bag C. The taps associated with thevalve M or faucet F are then adjusted to provide the desired temperatureand quantity of water. The gate valve 20 is then opened by squeezingelongated handle 34 against valve body 12, thus causing the water toflow through fluid passage 14. By suitable operation of the gate valve20, the flow rate of the water passing through passage 14 may becontrolled to provide a greater or lesser flow rate as desired.

Thus, the flow rate of the water available for cleansing the interior ofthe colostomy bag C may be advantageously adjusted so that the wateremanating from the nozzle 24 will strike the inside surface of the bag Cat an augmented rate, thus considerably improving the cleansing action.Because of this feature, a relatively small amount of water from valve Mor faucet F may be used for effective cleaning of the inside of the bag.

The device of the present invention is very easy to use and veryeffective. It may be used by the patient, or by an attendant.Furthermore, as seen in FIG. 4, it is easy for the patient to clean thebag with the bag in place on the patient, thus eliminating thediscomfort and problems associated with constant attachment andreattachment of the incontinence bag to the stoma. By attaching thedevice to a mixing valve or faucet located proximate a toilet T, thecontents of the bag may be flushed directly into the toilet, thusavoiding contamination of the sink area. Because the device is so easyto use and effective, body waste bags may be cleaned more thoroughly andmore often, thus greatly contributing to the patient's comfort, and thecleanliness of the bag environment.

With specific reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the invention device allowssimple one-handed operation even by patients suffering from arthritic orother physically debilitating conditions. Specifically, the single handH of the patient may be wrapped around valve body 12 and around handle34 whereafter the patient may position the nozzle 24 beneath thedischarge opening of the bag C and thereafter pull upwardly on the valvebody 12 to move the nozzle portion 22b into the bag, whereafter thepatient may squeeze the handle 34 downwardly to begin and thereaftercontrol the rate of flow of irrigating water through the device. Thedevice allows the contents of the bag to be readily emptied into atoilet in a totally hygienic manner and even the patient's hand issituated away from the discharge of the bag contents so that there is nocontamination even of the patient's hand. Simple and hygienic one-handoperation, even by arthritic patients, is thus made possible by theinvention device.

The device of the present invention may take other forms and designsthan those depicted and described herein. For example, the exactconfiguration of the valve body may be different from that depicted.Furthermore, the V configuration of the tube may vary from the specificshapes illustrated. It will be understood that the attachment of tube 22to the outlet of the valve body, the attachment of hose 28 to the inletof the valve body, and the attachment of hose 28 to mixing valve M orfaucet F may be accomplished utilizing various known connecting devicessuch as threaded connectors, snap connectors, or quick connectors. Forexample, with reference to FIG. 6, fittings or ends 30, 32, and 26 mayeach comprise a female lock stop connector coacting with a male lockstop connector provided respectively on opposite ends of the valve bodyand on faucet F. The lock stop fitting in each case includes an insideledge on the female connector coacting with an outside ledge on the maleconnector in response to relative pushing and turning movement. The malelock stop connector on faucet F may be provided on an adaptor 40threaded onto a threaded nipple 42 on the faucet following removal ofthe usual aerator screen.

I claim:
 1. A device for cleansing a body waste bag of the typeincluding an upper end adapted to be attached to a stoma to receivewaste from the patient's body and a lower end including a dischargeopening, the device including:a valve body having an inlet and an outletand defining a fluid passage extending within the body between the inletand the outlet; an elongated flexible hose having an outlet fitting atone end for attachment to the inlet of the valve body and an inletfitting at another end thereof for attachment to a source of runningwater; a valving device positioned in the passage and operative inresponse to movement of the valving device in the passage to control theflow of water through the passage; a handle positioned exteriorally ofthe valve body and mounted on the valve body for movement relative tothe valve body; means operative in response to movement of the handle tomove the valving device to control the flow of water through thepassage; a tube having a V configuration including a main body portionand a nozzle portion bent backwardly with respect to the main bodyportion; an inlet fitting on the free end of the main body portion tofacilitate attachment of the main body portion to the outlet of thevalve body passage; and a nozzle at the free end of the nozzle portionhaving a tapered configuration to facilitate insertion of the nozzleportion into the discharge opening of the body waste bag; whereby, withthe body waste bag attached to the stoma, the outlet fitting of theflexible hose attached to the inlet of the passage, and the inletfitting of the main body portion of the tube attached to the outlet ofthe passage, the inlet fitting of the flexible hose may be attached to asource of running water, the nozzle portion of the tube may be passedupwardly into the discharge opening of the waste bag to position thenozzle within the bag, and the handle may be manipulated to move thevalving device in a sense to open the passage and allow the flow ofirrigating water from the source, through the hose, through the passage,and through the tube into the bag to cleanse the bag.
 2. A deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein:the valve body is elongated and defines acentral longitudinal axis; and the handle is elongated, extendsgenerally parallel to the central longitudinal axis, and is mounted formovement toward and away from the valve body in response to a squeezingmovement exerted by a patient's hand wrapped around the valve body.
 3. Adevice according to claim 2 wherein the handle is mounted for pivotalmovement on the valve body.
 4. A device according to claim 2 wherein theinlet and outlet are at opposite ends of the valve body and the passageextends through the valve body generally parallel to the centrallongitudinal axis.
 5. A device according to claim 2 wherein, with thebody outlet positioned downwardly, the main body portion of the tubeextends downwardly away from the valve body generally parallel to thecentral longitudinal axis of the valve body and the nozzle portionangles upwardly from the main body portion whereby upward movement ofthe valve body moves the nozzle upwardly into the discharge opening ofthe body waste bag.
 6. A method for cleansing a body waste bag of thetype including an upper end adapted to be attached to a stoma to receivewaste from the patient's body and a lower end including a dischargeopening, the method including:providing a valve body having an inlet andoutlet and defining a fluid passage extending within the body betweenthe inlet and the outlet, an elongated flexible hose having an outletfitting at one end attached to the inlet of the valve body and an inletfitting at another end thereof for attachment to a source of runningwater, a valving device positioned in the passage and operative inresponse to movement of the valving device in the passage to control theflow of water through the passage, a handle positioned exteriorally ofthe valve body and mounted on the valve body for movement relative tothe valve body, means operative in response to movement of the handle tomove the valving device to control the flow of water through thepassage, a tube having a V configuration including a main body portionattached to the outlet of the valve body passage and a nozzle portionbent backwardly with respect to the main body portion, and a nozzle atthe free end of the nozzle portion having a tapered configuration tofacilitate insertion of the nozzle portion into the discharge opening ofthe body waste bag; attaching the body waste bag to the stoma; attachingthe inlet fitting of the flexible hose to a source of running water;passing the nozzle portion of the tube upwardly into the dischargeopening of the waste bag to position the nozzle within the bag; andmanipulating the handle to move the valving device in a sense to openthe passage and allow the flow of irrigating water from the source,through the hose, through the passage, and through the tube into the bagto cleanse the bag.
 7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the valvebody is elongated and defines a central longitudinal passage; the handleis elongated, extends generally parallel to the central longitudinalaxis, and is mounted for movement toward and away from the valve body inresponse to a squeezing movement exerted by a patient's hand wrappedaround the valve body; and the main body portion of the tube extendsgenerally parallel to the central longitudinal axiswhereby a patient'shand wrapped around the valve body may pull upwardly on the valve bodyto move the nozzle opening into the discharge opening of the bag and maythereafter squeeze the handle to direct a flow of irrigating waterthrough the valve body and into the bag.